“There is more to life than video games.” Earlier this school year, these are the exact words a staff member here at San Luis Obispo High School told me when I was ‘caught’ talking about video games in her classroom. This may seem like a simple comment, but in reality, it perfectly highlights the constant negativity gamers like myself deal with frequently. Gaming should be looked at as a hobby and form of entertainment, rather than what it is generally looked at among the older crowd: a waste of time.

 “It surprised me,” said sophomore Erik Viovode, talking about the incident of being censored. It surprised me too. It’s not surprising that a school staff member would think this, rather that they feel okay with saying it out loud.

 If I was heard talking about things such as sports or studying, there would’ve been no comment made, but because gaming was the topic of conversation, there was an automatic assumption that we were wasting our time. In actuality, I was ‘wasting’ the exact amount of time as everyone else.

 “I play games a lot, but I get my work done too,” said senior Eric Osmond. There is a preconceived notion that everyone who plays video games is failing classes and lazy. This assumption is often proved to be completely wrong.

 According to theweek.com, students that play video games somewhat frequently have less stress and depression. This is especially important considering the amount of stress that excess schoolwork often provides.

 Another interesting study, done by Dr.  Daphen Maurer, found that games like “Call of Duty” and “Medal of Honor” can actually improve vision.

 Research also shows that frequently playing games can help overcome dyslexia, as the constant changing environments require intense focus.

 End the blind disrespect against video games. They are a form of entertainment; nothing more, nothing less.

Sources:

Theweek.com

Mentalfloss.com